Selectively operable mechanism



Oct, 29, 1940. M w, KENNEY 2,219,687

SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MECHANI$M Filed July 3, 1936. 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1L/fen@ @y @0,14 d 77?@0@ @y M. w. KENNEY 2,219,687

SELECTIVELY OPERABL'E MECHANISM Filed July 3, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 29, 1940.

M. W. KENNEY SELEGTIVELY OPERABLE MEcHAN-ISM Filed July 3. 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 29, 1940. M w KENNEY 2,219,687 sELEcrIvELY- OPERABLE MEcHANIsM Filed July 3. 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 29, y1940 Maillon W. Kenney, River Forest, Ill. t Application July 3, i936, Serial No. 88,812

A'I Claims.

My invention relates in general to adjusting apparatus and has more particular reference to the adjustment of radio receivers.

An important object is to provide improved means for adjusting apparatus to any selected one of a number of adjusted positions; a further object being to provide means manually operable to tune a radio receiver to condition the same to a desired broadcasting station, the invention embracing apparatus for shifting the tuning means of the receiving apparatus, including automaticallyoperating means for stoppingthe adjusting means in adjusted position.

Another important object is to provide adjusting means in the form of a rotatable dial adapted to be twirled manually, including means manually operable as a part of the twirling action to stop the adjusting means in a selected adjusted position; a further object being to provide means to stop the adjusting apparatus in a desired position regardless of the direction of dial twirling movement.

Another important object is to provide means operable during the twirling movement of the dial to render inactive the apparatus being adjusted so that, Where applied in a radioreceiver, unpleasant and undesirable blurpy sounds caused by adjusting the receiver, when in active condition, rapidly through a number of station receiving positions, may be eliminated by rendering the receiver inactive during the adjusting operation.

Another important object is to provide adjustable tuning means for radio receivers, including means operable automatically during the tuning period to quiet the receiver, whereby the station, to which the receiver is tuned before commencing the adjustment, is silenced and the receiver remains inactive, emitting no sound whatever, until the tuning operation is completed at which instant the receiver becomes active inthe new adjusted position Another important object is to provide adjustlng means for the tuning condensers" of an electrical apparatus such as a radio receiver, including an improved yielding drive free from backlash, interconnecting the adjustable condensers with the condenser adjusting mechanism, in order to prevent the condenser from receiving mechanical strains as a resultl of undue operation of the adjusting means. n

Another important'obj ect is to provide selective adjusting apparatus, including a preferably annular selector dial adapted to b manually actuated to accomplish the adjustment, said manually adjustable selector dial having means, preferably in the form of openings for the reception of the finger'V of an operator, to permit facile twirling of the adjusting means, and means forming stops having portions extending in said opening and operable, upon insertion of a ringer in its corresponding opening, to stop the movement of the adjusting apparatus in adjusted position corresponding With the opening in which the nger is inserted to accomplish the adjustment, so that to accomplishV a desired adjustment it is merely necessary to insert a finger in the opening of the selector dial corresponding to the desired adjusted position and twirl the dial to such position at which the apparatus will be automatically stopped.

Another important object is to form the stop means as a button, the head of which extends in the finger opening of the selector dial and is adapted to receive indicia corresponding with the adjusted position controlled by vsaid button; a further object being to mount the button on a stem sliding in the turnable portions of the adjusting apparatus and normally urged, as by a spring, 'into position in which the stop means controlled by the button is inoperative, said stem carrying means shiftable, upon depression of the button, into position to stop the adjusting means in a desired tuned position upon twirling the selector dial.

Another. important object is to provide stop mechanism ,adapted to cooperate With the depressable button when the same is in depressed position to stop the adjusting mechanism in the desired angular position regardless of the direction in which the button controlled stop' approaches tuned position so that the mechanism may be stopped exactly in the desired adjusted position whether the selector dial'is turned in clockwise or' counter-clockwise direction.

Another important object is to provide means for stopping the adjusting mechanism in tuned position comprising a tilting bracket having a portion affording stop means adapted to co-operate with the button stop when the same is depressed in the selector plate, the bracket being movable to permit its stop portion to shift a predetermined distance in either direction, the displacement of said stop portion in either direction being limited so that the depressed button stop, and hence' the turnable adjusting means on l which it is mounted, may be stopped in the same adjusted position regardless of the direction in which it approaches the stop portion of the tilting bracket.

Another important object is to provide unitary,

- rigid frame means, preferably in the form of a die casting, upon which the movable portionsvof the adjusting apparatus, including the twirlable` selector dial, the depressable selector button and the tilting stop bracket, are mounted, the adjustment indicating means being also mounted on the die casting'.

Another important object is to provide, in combination with the automatic adjustment selector mechanism, manually operable means preferably in'the form of a turnable knob operable to adjust said mechanism to any desired adjusted position including positions intermediate those permitted by the selector buttons; a further object being to provide double ratio auxiliary adjusting means of the character mentioned providing for either rapid or relatively slow adjustment of the mechanism; and a still further object is to drivingly connect the auxiliary manually operable adjusting means with the automatically selective apparatus whereby adjustment by the auxiliary means is accomplished at least in part through the mechanism of the automatic selector mechanism, the driving connection between the auxiliary adjusting means and the automatic selector mechanism being preferably accomplished by belting the auxiliary means upon a drumlike portion of the selector mechanism.

Another important object is to form the turnable portions of the automatic selector mechanism as a rotatable assembly, including a spaced apart pair of indexing rings upon which the depressable selector buttons are carried; a further object being to arrange said indexing plates with a series of equally spaced openings for slidingly receiving the button shafts whereby they are all supported in parallel spaced relationship by both of the index plates, the foregoing arrangement providing an extremely simple and inexpensive manner of supporting the selector buttons since both of the indexing plates contain corresponding perforations and may be formed in a common die.

Another object is to provide each of the selector buttons with a stop in the form of a stem mounted on the button stem in position parallel therewith and adapted to be assembled for sliding movement in one of a plurality of indexing perforation sets formed inthe indexing plates whereby the stop means of each button may be accurately angulated on the index plate means to occupy the exact position required to stop the adjusting mechanism exactly in the desired adjusted position.

Another important object is to form the indexing plates with corresponding sets of perforations, each set comprising a, central perforation and additional perforations arranged concentrically about the central perforation, the concentrically arranged perforations being disposed so that the radial lines through the axis of the index plate and through each of said perforations are separated by a predetermined angle, whereby the stop shaft of a selector button may be accurately angulated on the index plate by inserting it in one of the circularly arranged openings, when the stem of the button is assembled in the central opening of the set.

Another important object is to allow for indexing the stop mechanism Aby providing index plate means having a guide opening for each stop button assembly and a plurality of openings arranged circulariy about the guide opening and in any one of which circular openings the stop portion may be inserted to index the same to a requiredstopping position on the index plate.

Another important object is to form the selector button with exposed means for carrying indicia to identifythe buttons, the buttons being formed to permit orientation of the indicia carrying means inthe button after the stop assembly with which the button is associated has been indexed.

Another object is to form the indicia carrying means as discs arranged in a card in position to be punchedtherefrom ready for assembly on the push buttons, the discs forming the card being printed with standard indicia for the purpose of identifying adjusted positions controlled by the stop buttons.

Another important object is to provide means to facilitate the indexing of the stop buttons by providing a target visible through the openings of the index plates so that the turnable adjusting mechanism may be set to the desired adjusted position and the push button stop assembly indexed on the indexing means by assembling the same in the' openings of the indexing means which are in alignment with said target; a further object being to form the target as a pin displayed inl front of a contrasting background to render the pin highly visible; a still further object being to form the background as a strip of sheet metal colored white,`the target pin being colored black and preferably comprising the stop element carried in the tilting stop frame previously mentioned, the background strip also being preferably carried in said tilting frame in position to be illuminated by lamps forming a part of the indicator.

Another important object is to provide, in a radio receiver having an A. F. C. circuit and automatic station-selecting means, means operable to render the A. F. C. circuit inactive as the receiver reaches tuned position, in order that a precision adjustment may be had; a further object being to accomplish the foregoing by providing a grounding switch for the A. F. C. circuit, which switch is normally open but is operatively associated with the tuning mechanism, more particularly the tilting stop frame thereof, whereby the A. F. C. circuit is grounded when the button controlled stop element shifts the tiltable stop frame upon reaching adjusted position; and a further object is to form the grounding switch/as a resilient element normally urging said tilting stop frame to assume a neutral position in which said grounding switch is open.

Another important object is to provide an adyjusting device more particularly for the tuning condensers of a radio receiver, which tuning device is directly connected with the tuning condenser and is arranged for rotary movement within a tuning range embracing at least one hundred eighty degrees.

Another important object is to provide an improved illuminated indicator having general utility but particularly Well adapted for use in radio receivers having the automatic station selector means heretofore mentioned, said indicator including relatively shiftable dial and pointer means, the dial preferably adapted for stationary mounting within the twirlable selector dial which, incidentally, may form a frame for a window covering the dial, the dial being of translucent material, such as glass, and being supported in front of a screen having openings through which light from a source back of the screen may be directed upon the translucent dial element to illuminate the same by refraction; a further object being to form the screen with a plurality of openings, eachin position opposite a scale of the dial, a separate light source being provided for each opening so that by selectively operating the light sources, one of the several scales may be indicated as operative; anda further object is to provide means for directing the 'light from each source only through its corresponding opening in the screen and to prevent light 'from one source from penetrating the screen opening corresponding with another source.

Another important object is to employ stationary lamps as illuminated scale indicating means and to differentiate the several scales of the indicator by selectively operating the lamps.

Another important object is to provide an illuminated indicator dial comprising a preferably glass plate, an Iapertured screen behind the plate and means to illuminate the indicator by means of light striking the glass plate through the screen openings and without employing light sources to illuminate the edge of the glass plate.

Another important object is to provide a preferably Celluloid sheet carrying means forming scales printed on thev sheet,`said sheet being mounted in front of the glass plate whereby said sheet and plate comprise an indirectly illuminated scale dial, the scale indicia on the sheet being displayed against a background of,suiused illumination provided by the glass plate.

Another important' object is to form scale identifying indicia on the dial in position opposite the openings of the backing screen so that the names of the several scales may be silhouetted in said openings when the lamps are energized therebehind. i

Another important object is to provide a radio receiver including a loud speaker or sound reproducer enclosed in a cabinet, the lateral walls of which are curved to minimize cabinet reverberation and permit sound reproduction to be' accomplishedin highly accurate fashion.

These and numerous other objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view4 of a radio receiver provided with the selective adjusting mechanism embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a partial and fragmentary front View of apparatus embodying my present invention;

Figures 6 and '7 are sectional views taken substantially along the lines Ii-B and 1-1, respectively, in Figured;

Figure. 8 is an exploded perspective view of parts forming the apparatus of my present invention; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 in Figure 8.

To illustrate the invention, I have shown on the drawings a radio receiver II having adjustable means I3, namely, condensers whereby the radio receiver may be tuned to adjust the same for the reception of signals within the operating range of the receiver, although it will be apparent y Vthat the device of my present invention is not necessarily restricted to the adjustment of radio receivers. The present invention, however, relates to means operable automatically to turn the adjustable. means I9 to any one of a number of predetermined adjusted positions and to this end I provide adjusting means I5, drivingly connected with the adjustable means I3, the adjusting means being supported on a preferably unitary, rigid frame I1, forming a support on which all of the mechanism hereinafter described is mounted. The frame I1 is provided with a mounting lug I9, by means of which it may be attached on a mounting 2|, which is secured in any suitable fashion as on the frame or casing of the receiver Il. The lug I9 also affords means for attaching a support bracket 23 on which the adjustable means I3 is mounted in substantially fixed relationshipwith respect to the frame I1. The adjustable means I3 also may have a shaft 25 projecting therefrom toward the frame I1 and the frame is 'or may be formed with spaced journal portions 21 forming mountings for a shaft 29, the axis of which is preferably substantially in line with the axis of the shaft 25.

The frame I1 may be formed conveniently as a die casting and provides portions 3| on which may be mounted, indicating means for showing the adjusted position of the device I3, said lndicating means preferably comprising a stationary graduated dial 35 carried in a frame 31 which in turn is mounted on a bracket 39, the bracket 39 being secured on the mounting portions 3i of the support frame I1 by means of fastening screws 4I, or other suitable securing means. The indicator also preferably comprises pointers 43 and 45, the pointer 43 being mounted on a shaft 41, which is directly connected to and turns with the shaft 29, whereby the pointer 43 directly indicates' the adjusted position of the condenser means I3. The pointer 43 preferably has indicating portions 5I and 53 extending oppositely from the shaft 41 in position to sweep in front of the dial 35. The pointer 45, however, is carried on a sleeve 49 which embraces the shaft 41. The sleeve 49 is preferably connected through suitable gearing 55 with the shaft 29, the gear ratio preferably providing a 12 to 1 ratio so that the pointer 45 may travel completely around the dial while the pointer43 is traveling el; of the dial.

The shaft 29 carries a support spider 51 splined thereon between the bearing portions 21, said spider comprising a hub 59 embracing the shaft 29 and a segmental portion, embodying strengthening ribs 6I extending radially of the hub 59, having a marginal edge 63 subtending an angle of approximately degrees with respect to the axis of the shaft 29.

It will be seen that the segmental spider may rotate through substantially degrees, rotation thereof in either direction being limited by engagement of the opposite edges of the segment on the frame I1. I prefer also to provide embossments 64 on opposite sides of the frame I1 in position to engage preferably resilient buffers 66, which are set in the edges of the segmental spider 51. In this manner the rotation 0f the spider may be limited so that when drivingly connected with an adjustable device such as the condenser of a radio receiver, the movement of thev spider in either direction may be limited whereby to prevent the condenser from being shifted beyond a predetermined limit, thus preventing damage tothe condenser by eliminating the possibility of over-travel ofthe spider, and the other elements of the adjusting apparatus, all of which form a relatively lheavy assembly which might damage the condenser were it not for the protective stops afforded by the means 64 and 66. IIfhe supportspider 51 has a socketed portion 65 in which is mounted a pin 81 which y extends toward the adjustable device I3, the pin 61 affording means to drivingly connect the spider with the condenser shaft 45 for the purpose of turning the same in accomplishing adjustment of the means I3. To this end the shaft 25 carries resilient crank means 69 comprising a hub 1| and an arm 13 extending radially in position to engage one side of the pin 61, said arm 13 having a springlike clip 15 engaging the opposite side of the pin 61, whereby said pin is resiliently secured in driving relationship with respect to the crank means 69. l

By turning the spider 51 on the axis of its supporting shaft 29, the shaft 25 of the adjustable means I3 may be turned to any desired adjusted position. An important object of my present invention is, however, to provide manually operable means adapted, upon turning the adjusting mechanism, to cause the same to stop automatically at a position selected by the operator of the adjusting device, and to this end I provide convenient means 11 manually operable to turn the spider 51 and hence the adjustable device I3, including selective means 19 operable as an incident to the turning of the means 11 to cause the frame 51, and hence the adjustable device I3, to stop in the preselected adjusted position.

The device 11 preferably comprises an escutcheon plate formed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and comprising a preferably annular ring having a plurality of spaced apart openings 8|, behind which the selector means 19 are arranged in position for operation upon insertion of a finger in a selected one of the openings 8|. The escutcheon plate forms a mounting for a window element 83 and is supported on the frame 51 in position such that the escutcheon plate overlies an opening 85 formed in a wall B1 of the cabinet in which the adjustable receiver mechanism I I is mounted, the window element 83 being supported in front of the indicator dial 35 so that said dial is displayed centrally of or within the escutcheon plate.

The selector means 19 is mounted on the spider 51 behind the escutcheon plate and turns with said plate and spider. The selector means preferably comprises selectively operable stops supported in index plate means comprising an index plate means of preferably annular configuration, including a pair of spaced apart index plates 8,9 and 9|, said plates being held in spaced apart relationship by means of spacer sleeves 93 and secured upon the circular segmental rim 63 of the spider, by means of studs 95, which penetrate openings in the plates, extend through the sleeves 93 and preferably thread into embossments 91, formed'on the rim of the spider 51. The index plates are thus supported in spaced relationship relatively rigidly with respect tothe spider, the plates encircling the indicator supporting portions 3| of the frame I1. The escutcheon plate is supported on and from the indexing means by spacing elements 99 which interconnect the escutcheon plate with the indexing plate 9|, so that the escutcheon plate and the indexing plates are supported in sub stantially parallel relationship, and it will be seen that the escutcheon plate, the indexing plates and the spider form a rotatable assembly on the shaft 29. The stop means 19 is carriedv on and bythe indexing` plates, and comprises a plurality of depressible stems IOI. slidably mounted and guided by the indexing plate means opposite the openings 8| of the escutcheon plate, there being a depressible element IOI opposite each of the openings 8|. The stems IIJI are guided in openings in the plate 9| and extend toward the openings 8|. Each stem carries a push button |03 opposite its corresponding opening 8|. The resilient means, preferably a coiled spring |05 encircling each stem IOI, are provided to normally*l urge the stems toward the escutcheon plate. The stem in each carry a link |01 affording a mounting for 'a stop pin |09, which pin is fixed on and extends parallel with respect to its corresponding pin and extends through openings in the indexing plates 89 and 9|. The pins |09 extend rearwardly of the indexing means, but are held normally in restricted position. By pressing upon any one of the several push buttons |03, however, the push button assembly may be depressed on the indexing means against the urge of the spring and the stop pin |09 projected' rearwardly of the plate 89 into position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, to engage a stop pin III, which is mounted on the stationary frame I1. It will be seen, therefore; that by inserting a finger in one of the openings 8| the escutcheon plate and also the indexing plates, as well as the spider 51, may be easily rotated in either direction. The assembly rotated in this fashion includes the stop means 19. Insertion of a finger in an opening 8|, in order to thus turn the rotatable assembly incidentally causes depression of the button |03 at the opening 8| and projects the stop pin |09 into position such that when the rotating assembly has moved through a distance corresponding to the selected opening 8|, the pin |09 will engage the stop element II I, whereupon further turning of the rotatable assembly will be stopped. By properly positioning the pin |09, it will be seen that stoppage of the assembly may be accomplished in a position in which the spider 51, through its driving pin 61, will have turned the shaft of the means I3 to an exact and predeterminable adjusted position.

I desire, however, to insure that stoppage of the mechanism is accomplished at the same relative position regardless of the direction in which the pin |09 approaches the stop pin III. If the stop pin III is rigid on the frame I1, it will be seen that the shiftable device will not be -stopped in the same position, but the stopping position, when the device is turned in one direction, will be displaced from the position of stoppage in the other direction by a distance equal to the sum of the diameters of the pins |09 and III. I therefore support the pin III with its axis in the plane in which I desire to stop the axis of the pin |09 when adjusted position is reached, and to this end IV mount the pin I II in a bracket or frame II3, preferably comprising a bent sheet metal strip having an upper arm I I5 and a lower arm II1, the'stop element III comprising a cylindrical stem fixed at its opposite ends to the terminal portions of the arms II5 and II1. The frame ||3 is tiltably mounted on a shaft I2I, which in turn is secured as by threading in a socket 23 formed in the bracket I1. The arms ||5 and I I1 have cut-out openings |25 including a notched portion |21 defined by spaced fingers |29 between which the stop eleof the bracket ||3 about thepin |2| in order that when the stop pin |09 'engages the element in one directionysaid element vmay shift suilciently to permit the stem |09 to occupy a position in which its axis lies? exactly in the desired adjusted position, the bracket permitting the element to shift in the opposite direction when engaged by the pin |09 to permit said pin to occupy the same adjusted position when approaching from the other direction. To

this end the bracket ||5 is formed with a cut-out which is formed preferably as an integral part of the frame |1. The opposed edges of the cutout |3| are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the projection |33 and thus limit the tilting movement of the frame ||3 in either direction about its support pin |2| to accomplish the stopping movement, heretofore described, to the end that the pin |09 may be stopped with its axis in the same position regardless of the direction from which the pin |09 approaches the stop element y The escutcheon plates 89 and 9| are formed with a plurality of openings for the reception of the pins |0| and the stop pins |09. These openings are arranged in -sets as shown in Figure 5, each set including a centraLopening |35 for the reception of the pin |0| and a plurality of openings |31 arranged concentrically around the central opening |35 in order that the pin` |09 of each button may be assembled in any one of the openings |31 in order to enable the pin 109 to be indexed as closely as possible to the exact position enabling it to accomplish tuning automatically by stopping the rotary tuning movement of the spider and hence of the shaft 25 on the exact position to which the shaftis necessarily turned in accomplishing the adjustment. To this end I may provide a large number of openings |31, each on a radius extending from the axis `of the shaft 29 and the radius through each perforation |31 being displaced from the radii through the other openings. The number of openings |31 may, of course, be multiplied to any extent within the available area of the indexing plate but I prefer to utilize ythirteen openings in each set, four of the openings in each set being shared in common with adjacent sets,`

and the openings being arranged in such a way that the radii through all of the openings of a set are separated by a predetermined angle Which is sufciently small to enable the button selector to be assembled with its stop pin |09 in one of the openings of a set, and so assembled to be suiciently accurately indexed to permit automatic tuning to a desired adjusted position, it being understood that when used in connection with a modern radio receiverl that satisfactory tuning may be had even though the receiver is adjusted Within a few degrees of the point of maximum accuracy. The perforations |31,

' however, are arranged so that the angular displacement of their corresponding radii is less than the permissible variation in tuning a radio receiver.

For convenience the openings |31 are also arranged in a vplurality of concentric rings about the central opening |35, the pin carrying link |01 being provided with a pair of openings in' either of which the pin |09 may be mounted, the

pin, when carried in the inner link opening, being adaptedfor assembly in a selected perforation |31 of an inner ring of openings. If the pin is mounted in the more remote opening of .the link ||l' it will be adapted for assembly in one of the perforatlons of the outer ring of openrotated: manually to bring the same to a desired adjusted position. 'I'he pin |09 of a push-button is then inserted through the openings |31 of the plates 89; and 9|, which are most closely in alignment with the stop pin The proper openings |31 in which to insert the pin |09 may be determined' by visual inspection since the same are those through which the pin may be seen. .To facilitate this operation I may color the pin to render the same more highly visible through the openings |31 andthe pin is preferably colored black for this purpose, and is displayed against a preferably light background provided by a reflector plate |39, which may p |25 behind the pin This reflector plate |39 v may comprise a strip of sheet metal preferably coated with white paint or other means forming a background against which the contrasting pin may be displayed. The reflector plate |39 also may be thus mounted in position to be illuminated by lamps mounted behind the dial for the purpose of illuminating the same as hereinafter described, these lamps being in position to shine upon reflector plate |39 and in order to provide a background against which the pin may be displayed in highly contrasting fashion.

It will be seen that all of the push-button assemblies may thus be indexed or oriented on the plates 89 and 9| to stop the same at a desired adjusted position of the adjustable means I3. It will also be apparent that the required ycannot be determined in advance of the button indexingloperation. The push buttons may comprise dished elements |4| turnably mounted on the end of the stem |0| which also carries the link |01 extending radially outwardly thereof, the link being preferably fixed on the stem |0|. The dished element 4| is normally held against turning by the spring-like washer |43 which is held in place on the stem by means of a washer |45, over which the end of the stern |0| is riveted or peened, as at |41. This construction will normally hold the dished element |4| against rotation on thel pin |0|, but will permit turning if suiiicient force is supplied for that purpose. The push-button includes also a cover element |49 which may be assembled uponl the dished element |4| in order to close the same. A transparent window element |5| is held upon the dished element |4| by means of the cover |49, which has lugs |53 to hold the same and the window in place on the dished member. The transparent window element, may receive an indicia card |55 on which may be marked a designation of the setting controlled by the push-button. The push-button assembly may, of course, be made at the factory, except that the indicia card |55 remains blank. When the button assembly however is indexed, the adjusted position to which the assembly is indexed may be marked on the card by removing the cover |49 and then replacing the same after the card is marked. No care need be taken to properly align the indicia card in the button when the marked card is thus assembled in order to take care of the angulated indexed positionof the button assembly since after the indexing is completed, the head of the button may be turned on the stem |0|, the spring |43 yielding to permit such turning movement in order to orient the indicia to a desired, readily readableI position.

In adjusting radio receiving apparatus for the tuning of the same where the tuning operation involves the rapid movement of the adjustable portions thereof through a plurality of tuned station receiving positions, the receiver may instantaneously emit blurpy sounds in passing through the tuned positions in reaching a position to which it is desired to adjust the apparatus. This condition is somewhat undesirable and I propose to eliminate the same by incorporating switching means for rendering the equipment II inoperative during automatic tuning by means of the push-buttons and escutcheon plate. To this end I provide switch means operable upon depression of any of the buttons |03 to render the set inactive until the button is released at the compression of the automatic tuning operation. To illustrate this phase of my invention I have shown, on the drawings, a pair of segmental strips |51, which are mounted preferably at an edge of the indexing plate 89 in any suitable fashion, as by means of fastening rivets |59. These plates |51 provide insulated supports for switch contact means IBI, which may conveniently be formed, as illustrated in sections |63, arranged in end to end contacting relationship and supported by the insulating strips |51. 'I'he sections |63 preferably comprise electrically conducting material arranged to provide mounting portions |65 which are secured on the mounting strips |51, as by means of the rivets |61 and contacting portions |69 extending in position opposite the inner end of the center pins of each of the button assemblies. Upon depression of any button .the end of its pin |0| will engage upon` the corresponding contact portion |69 of the switch means I6 I and thus complete a. control circuit for quieting the receiving apparatus as long as the button is depressed. The particular mode of -connecting the quieting circuit in the radio receiver in order to render the same inactive when any of the buttons |03 are depressed, will readily suggest itself to anyone familiar with radio receivers.

I also prefer to provide switch means |1| for the purpose of controlling a. part of the receiver in order to facilitate and insure the tuning of the device to the desired station. Modern radio receivers frequently employ-means for accomplishing automatic frequency control, commonly designated A. F. C., whereby a radio receiver when tunedto an adjusted position adjacent but not exactly at the position of accurate adjustment for receiving a station, will nevertheless be drawn into tuned condition electrically rather than mechanically by operation of an A. F. C. circuit. The A. F. C. circuit thus operates to widen the range of mechanical'adjustment within 'which any given broadcast may be received and reproduced by the receiver, and'I may utilize the switch means I1I for the purpose of grounding the A. F. C. circuit ofthe receiver at the instant of tuning in order to restrict the tuning area at the instant the device reaches the adjusted position determined by the stop means |03, whereby thus to exclude interference at the time when the receiver commences operation in the new, tuned position. To this end the main frame or bracket i1 is provided with a seat |13 for a pair of yielding switch blades |15 and a pair of insulating elements |11 for insulating one of the blades |15 from the other and from the frame I1 while electrically connecting said other blade on the frame which is grounded. 'I'he blades |13 carry switch contacts |19 which are normally held open due to the resilience of the blades. The grounded blade carries a bracket |8| in which is mounted a roller |83 in position to engage a cam element |85 which in turn is mounted on the tilting bracket |I3. The cam element |85 has a notched edge in position engaging the roller |83. When the bracket I I3 is in its neutral position, as shown in Figure 8, the roller |83 will be seated in the bottom of the notch of the cam element in position such that the contacts |19 are out of engagement. The insulated blade |15 may be electrically connected with the A. F. C. circuit of the receiver and, consequently, as the pin |09 engages the stop portion II I of the bracket ||3 the cam element |85 will be rocked in one direction or another to press the roller |83 outwardly, as shown in Figure '7, thus causing closure of the contacts |19 and grounding of the A. F. C. circuit of the receiver. leased, however, at the completion of the tuning operation, the spring portions |15 will resiliently urge the roller |83 against the cam |85 and cause the bracket to return to a neutral position permitting the contacts |19 to open and restore the A. F. C. circuit of the receiver to normal operation.

I prefer also to provide means, preferably under the control of a manually turnable knob |81 which is exposed outwardly of theA cabinet 81, adjacent an edge of the escutcheon plate 11, for turning the adjustable element I3 to any desired adjusted position, including positions intermediate the adjusted positions accomplished by the push-buttons |03. To this end the knob |81 may be connected on a shaft |89 extending through the Wall of the cabinet and drivingly connected with a pulley |9| on which travels a iiexible belt or cord |93 which travels also in a groove |95 formed in an edge of one of the indexing plates, preferably the plate 89, whereby the rotatable assembly, including the escutcheon plate, the indexing plates, the spider 51 and the shaft 25 of the element I3 may be turned by operating the knob |81 independently of operation by the push-buttons.

I prefer also to provide a geared driving connection between the shaft |89 and the pulley |9I, whereby the pulley may be rotated relatively slowly when the shaft is in normal position and may be rotated relatively more rapidly by shifting the shaft |89 axially, as by pulling on the knob into high ratio position.

The dial 35 may be of any preferred construction embodying a scale or scales calibrated to the adjustable device so that the pointers 43 and 45 may indicate the adjusted position of the device I3 at all times on the dial. I prefer, however, to utilize an illuminated dial and have illustrated eoA nection with the selective adjusting mechanism heretofore described, although it will be obvious that the novel features of the dial are not necessarily restricted to dials for radio receivers but may'be utilized in indicators generally. The illustrated dial construction comprises translucent means |93, preferably a plate of glass, and a sheet of pyrolin or Celluloid. The glass plate may be etched as at |95 to provide a` clock scale and a preferably uniformly whitened surface inwardly of the clock scale While the transparent chart may be formed tov provide scales in position to be displayed in front of the whitened area of the glass plate. Where the indicator is used ina radioreceiver, the scales may comprise a plurality of indicating scales |91, |99, 20| and 203 arranged preferably in the manner described in the co-pending application of Cornelius G. Ely andv Earl H. Allen, Serial No. 39,320, filed September 5, 1935. The plate |93 is preferably mounted in front of a preferably opaque screen 205, formed with windows 201 arranged in position opposite the central portions of the scales |91, |99, 20| and 203. The plate |93 also may have indicia thereon for identifying the scales, said indicia being arranged opposite the windows 201. The plate |93 also may be secured on the screen 205 by means of holding lugs 209, and to this end I prefer to form the screen 205 as a sheet metal blade having integral lugs 209 formed thereon. The plate 205 is secured as by welding or any other preferred fashion on the mounting bracket :39, which has laterally extending lugs 2|| for receiving lamp supporting clips 2|2 in which lamps 2|4 may be mounted and supported from the frame 39 in position extending behind the openings 201 in position to illuminate the dial plate |93 through said openings and provide an indication by selectively energizing the lamps to show which of the scales of the plate |93 is in condition showing the adjusted position of the device I3. To this end the bracket 39 is. or may be formed with partition means 2|3 adapted to screen each of the dial illuminating lamps from illuminating the dial through any ofthe openings 201 except that opposite which the lamp is mounted. With this arrangement the dial illuminating lamps will be selectively operated to illuminate only one scale at a time, depending upon the operating condition of the equipment which, of course, may be adjusted for operation under conditions represented by the several scales |91, |99, 20|4 and 203, by control means 2|5 having a control element 2|1 projecting outwardly of the cabinet 81in position for manipulation. Operation of the knob 2|1 to change the operating condition of the apparatus H will also control which of the dial illuminating lamps is energized at any instant or during any operating period. Lamps also may be clipped -on the legs of the bracket 39 in position to illuminate the .finger pieces |03.

Where it is undesirable or unnecessary to provide for selectively illuminating the scales I may provide a somewhat more simple indicator conhowever, may be provided by lamps mountedl within the dished housing element behind th scale carrying sheet.

In Aconnection with radio receiving apparatus f preferably sheet metal element bent to provide preferably parallel flanges 2|1 and an interconnecting wall 2 9, providing a rigid frame on which the bracket |1, and the support channel 23, may

be mounted, the rigid bracket affording means for mounting the adjusting mechanism upon the frame or container of the receiver apparatus Il, to the end that the adjustable device I3 and the adjusting mechanism may be maintained in proper alignment. I prefer also to mount the apparatus and the adjustable means and mecha-l nism carried thereby in a cabinet 22| having curved corner and end Wall portions 223. Since I find that this cabinet structure is particularly well suited for housing acoustical devices, and particularly radio receivers, since the same eliminates reverberation and boom due to the nonvibrating characteristics of curved wall portions. The radio receiver apparatus may also include various adjustments such as tone control, volume control, and beacon tuning control accomplished through manually adjustable knobs 225-229 and 23|, in addition to the band selection control 2|1 and the manual adjustment provided by the knob |81. The cabinet 2|9 also may, and preferably does include a loud speaker or sound reproducing mechanism indicated generally at 233.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts of the illustrated apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention or sacricing any of its attendant advantages, the preferred modes and forms herein described being merely for the purpose of illustrating the invention. 1

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Selective adjusting mechanism comprising a manually shiftable element and selectively operable means for stopping movement of said element when a desired adjusted position of said element is reached comprising a plurality of stems depressible on said element, a stop pin on each stem and depressible therewith into stopping position, means normally urging each stem and its associated pin toward non-stopping position, 'said element having a plurality of openings for the stop pin of each stem, said openings being laterally offset with respect to each other Whereby each of said pins may be indexed in any one of a plurality of relatively onset positions, each of said pins being secured to its associated stem by means of a link extending radially of said stem, at least some of said links providing for mounting the pin parallel with the stem at various distances therefrom and wherein said shiftable element has a perforation for the reception of each stem and a plurality of perforations disposed about each stem perforation in concentric circular arrangement so that by mounting the pin in various positions on the link, it may be indexed in any one of said concentrically arranged openings.

2. Selective adjusting mechanism comprising a manually shiftable element and selectively operable means for stopping movement of said element when a desired adjusted position of said element .is reached comprising a plurality of stems depressible on said element, a stop pin on each stem and depressible therewith into stopping position, means normally urging each stem and its associated pin toward non-stopping position, said element having a plurality of openings for the stop pin of each stem, said openings being laterally oiset with respect to each other whereby each of said pins may be indexed in any one of a plurality of relatively offset positions, each of said stems being provided with a button forming ahousing for indicia means for indicating the adjusted position controlled by the button, said button being yieldingly held against relative rotation on said stem but being turnable thereon to orient said indicia after the stem and its stop pin have been indexed and assembled on the A shiftable element.

3. Selective adjusting mechanism comprising a manually shiftable element and selectively operable means for stopping movement of said element when a desired adjusted position of said element is reached comprising a plurality of stems depressible on said element, a stop pin on each stem and depressible therewith into stopping position, means normally urging each stem and its associated pin toward non-stopping position, said element having a plurality of openings for the stop pin of each stem, said openings being laterally offset with respect to each other whereby each of said pins may be indexed in any one' of a plurality of relatively offset positions, said manually shiftable element comprising a frame embodying a pair of plates of similar construction having aligned openings for the stems and associated stop pins, said plates being secured in spaced relationship and at least one of them having a groove, auxiliary adjusting means for turning the shiftable element to any adjusted position thereoi` independently of the stop means comprising said pins, said auxiliary adjusting means comprising a manually turnable pulley and a belt transmission travelling said pulley and the groove of said plate, said auxiliary adjusting means having a plurality of operating p0s it 1ons in one of which the pulley is turned relatively more rapidly than another in response to manipulation of said auxiliary adjusting means.

4. Selective adjusting mechanism comprising a manually shiftable element and selectively operable means for stopping movement oi said element when a desired adjusted position of said element is reached comprising a plurality of stems depressible on said element, a stop pin on whereby each of said pins may be indexed in any one of al plurality of relatively offset positions, and sighting means mounted in position behind the pin receiving perforation portion of the shiftable element to indicate in which of said openings the stop pin should be assembled for indexing purposes.

5. Selective adjusting mechanism comprising a manually shiftable element and selectively operable means for stopping movement of said element when a. desired adjusted position of said kelement is reached comprising a plurality of stems depressible on said element, a stop pin on each stem and depressible therewith into stopping position, means normally urging each stem and,its associated pin toward non-stopping position, said element having a plurality of openings for the stop pin of each stem, said openings being laterally offset with respect to each other whereby each of said pins may be indexed in any one of a plurality of relatively offset positions, and a sighting bar mounted in position behind the perforated portion of said shiftable element to indicate in which of said openings the stop pin should be assembled for indexing the same, and

'means behind said sighting bar for increasing its visibility through said perforation.

6. Selective adjusting mechanism comprising a manually shiftable element and selectively operable means for stopping movement of said eiement when a desired adjusted position of said element is reached comprising a plurality of stems depressible on said element, a. stop pin on each stem and depressible therewith into stopping position, means normally urging each stem and its associated pin toward non-stopping position, said element having a plurality of openings for the stop pin of each stem, said openings being laterally oifset With'respect to each other whereby each of said pins may be 'indexed inf-any one of a plurality of relatively offset positions, a sighting bar mounted in position behind the perforated portion of said shiftable element to indicate in which of said openings the-stop pin should be assembled for indexing the same, and illuminated means behind said bar for increasing its visibility through'said perforation.

7. Selective adjusting mechanism comprising a manually shiftable element and selective means operable during and as a part of the shifting of said element to stop the same when a desired adjusted position is reached, said selective means comprising a plurality of selectors individual and selectively depressible on said manually shiftable element, each depressible selector comprising a guide stem and a cooperating stem-like stop element axially movable on ythe manually shiftable element, means normally urging said guide stem and stop element ntoward inactive position onthe shiftable element, means forming a cooperating stop adapted to engage said stop element `when the selector is depressed on said shiftable element whereby to stop the shiftable element in a position determined by said stop element, said stop element having a stem-like portion adapted to extend substantially parallel with respect to the guide stem, and means to adjust the distance between said stop element and its associated guide stem.

MAHLON W. KENNEY. 

